//------------------------------// // Chapter 23 – Blades of Grass // Story: Pokémon Eclipse // by moviemaster8510 //------------------------------// Sam had little trouble climbing up the six-foot ledge to the next grassy platform. With the treetops of the Lush Jungle just coming into view, it was difficult to not be motivated by the sight of their next imminent trial. With Alice and Lady following behind him, Fluttershy flew up to Sam’s side while Starlight lifted herself up on her magic. “Almost there,” Sam loudly breathed out. “We really are on a roll, aren’t we?” Starlight nudged him in the left cheek of his butt with her shoulder, glancing to him with the sides of her half-open eyes. “Yep! Two trials in just a couple of hours. We’ll be done with this island in no time!” “And we’ll find more of our friends!” Fluttershy added Sam and Starlight looked to Alice, who sported an uncharacteristic frown. “I really do hope we don’t end up going all over this island just to find out they were in the southern part all along.” “Either way,” Sam said, “we’re getting our trials in and getting stronger. This is a big island, and even if you end up being right, we’re too far north now to just turn back. Listen to me, I sound like you right now!” “And I’d really like you to stop!” “Hey, there!” The whole group looked up to the source of the new voice to see a young woman standing on the ledge of the next platform. Her messy green hair was tied back into a small, tight bun, and her clothing consisted of a pair of tight, mud-caked jeans, a snug green shirt whose sleeves cut off just past the elbows, and a pair of small brown boots. “Let me guess!” Alice called out. “You’re the Trial Captain!” “Let me guess too!” She suddenly chirped. “You’re here to take my trial!” “Yep,” Starlight deadpanned to herself. “Must be.” “I’m Mallow, and I am indeed the Trial Captain of the Lush Jungle. Kind of surprised you’re coming this way. Have you not done the trial at the Wela Volcano yet?” “No,” Sam answered, “we just finished Lana’s trial and we were right here.” “I see! You’re the dessert before dinner kind of people! No problem! If you’re ready, you can come on in!” Mallow ran back, Sam hearing her climb another platform to the next level of the hill. He then turned back to his sister and friends. “Sounds like we have a couple more.” “Hold on,” Starlight said, charging her horn. “I can get us up in one.” Alice looked about to her, Sam, and the hill, only to suddenly feel a tingling sensation followed by weightlessness as she, Sam, and Lady were lifted off the ground along with Starlight floating in the center between them. As they were lifted past the next wall and over the last, Fluttershy flew beside them the whole way until they were put on solid ground, the path before them now smooth and flat enough to walk. With Starlight removing her magic, Sam and Alice shifted back down on their feet, their mass returning. “Well…” Alice shivered in what looked like a fully-bodied twitch. “That was something.” “Come on!” Starlight led the way. “The trial site’s just up ahead!” The path forward looked to wind a bit down between a small canyon of rocks, but the expanse of the jungle could be seen from the top of the hill. Neither Sam nor Alice could appreciate the sight long, as Starlight and Lady moved farther away, forcing them and Fluttershy to get a move on and catch up. Making their way downhill, Sam couldn’t help but look back and see a sheet of darker clouds roll in from the south in the otherwise peerless sky. Finally, they reached the bottom of the hill, the gateway of the trial site facing them and the pathway leading inside leading toward green darkness. With the five of them standing there, Mallow popped out from behind the left post of the gate. “Hi! Looks like you’re all ready to feast your eyes on my trial!” “Uh, sure!” Sam nervously responded. “Great! Let me lay down a few ground rules. I’m sure you’re already familiar with having to start the trial over if you fail or not being able to catch Pokémon, so let’s skip to the sweet stuff. Now, I don’t think I’ve ever had to manage a tag-team trial, so I’ll whip up a new rule right here! As long as there’s at least one Pokémon standing between the two of you after you defeated the trial Pokémon and its allies, you will both pass.” “Oh, neat! Lana had it so that we each had to have one of our Pokémon standing to both win.” “Sam!” Alice’s hiss was accentuated by a hard nudge into Sam’s ribs. “Hey,” Mallow responded, “that’s a great idea! Why don’t we play by Lana’s rules?!” “Why’d you have to say anything?” Mallow forcefully pursed her lips to restrain the oncoming laughter at the sight of Sam’s queasy frown and Alice’s deathly glare. “AHAHAHAHA! I’m just teasing! I think as long as you each get some hits in, I’ll declare any victory a shared one! Come on through, and let’s get cracking!” With a wave-in motion of her arm, she walked past the gate. With a deep breath from both Sam and Alice, they both walked through the gate, Starlight, Lady, and Fluttershy following closely. “You’re really lucky she’s a jokester,” Alice mumbled into Sam’s ear. “But it looks like she is, so drop it, okay?” Sam quickened his pace to remain out of earshot. With the foliage getting thicker and the sunlight becoming more sparse, Starlight and Fluttershy both looked about with trepidation as their surroundings became more and more threatening. “This is too much like the Everfree Forest!” Fluttershy whimpered Starlight forced a smile, her brow sweating. “I’m sure the Pokémon in here aren’t that scary. Once Sam and Alice beat the trial, we’ll be right out of here before you know it.” “I certainly hope so.” Sam and Alice caught Mallow in a clearing, standing beside a large, wide stone mortar and a cloth set beside it with several tools laid neatly on it. Sam could see a pestle and a large santoku-style knife among them, making him grin with what he thought he would do. “That’s it,” Mallow exclaimed with a wave, “coming in smiling and ready to get your fill of excitement! I like it!” Sam continued browsing the selection. “So, what is this? Are we going to be cooking something?” Mallow bit her lip and looked off to the side coyly. “Kinda! Here’s what I’d like you to do first. Since you’ll be doing this trial in doubles, I’ll need you both to get the following: a Mago Berry, a Tiny Mushroom, a Miracle Seed, and a Revival Herb. Just to clarify, you’ll need to bring back two of each, or else this won’t go right!” She then turned to Starlight and Fluttershy. “You can help out with finding the ingredients too if you want. Just don’t get in the way if you know what I’m saying!” “I… think I do?” Starlight cocked her head to the side. “Don’t worry,” Fluttershy nervously giggled, “I promise not to get in anyone’s way!” “Oh, that reminds me!” Alice stepped up. “You haven’t seen any ponies like them around here, have you?” “I can’t say that I have,” Mallow said, scratching her chin. “I do double duty between serving as the Trial Captain and working the kitchen at the Hot Clay Pot in Konikoni, so if something came up, I would have seen it and told you. Sorry!” “That’s okay,” Sam responded. “We’re not unconfident that we’ll find them. Just have to keep looking a bit longer is all.” “Yep. Speaking of looking, it’s time for you to begin your trial! Be sure to bring those ingredients we need, pronto. Good luck, everyone!” Sam turned to Alice and the ponies. “We should get going. I saw some nasty looking clouds coming from the south.” Alice gave a slight nod. “Then we only got one chance at this today.” “Sounds about right. Let’s go!” Sam ran forward and Alice jutted to the left. Starlight ran forward with Lady, leaving Fluttershy behind. “I’ll go with Sam. Go help Alice!” Fluttershy’s legs quivered as Alice disappeared into the brush. Mallow smiled out of adoration and pity. “Come on, Fluttershy, it’s not that bad in here.” Mallow’s words didn’t seem to ease the pegasus toward Alice’s direction, so the captain looked about through the trees, finding what appeared to be a single vine of bright colored flowers on one of the branches. Placing her index finger and thumb into the corners of her mouth, Mallow blew a brief, sharp whistle from her mouth. The vine then unwrapped itself from the branch and flew down to Mallow, the front end of the vine having a green, leafy bulb with two arms and a happy orange face on it. Mallow pointed to Fluttershy, and the Pokémon took notice of her. “You wouldn’t mind escorting that little pony through the big, bad forest, do you?” Seemingly elated to do so, the Pokémon squealed with delight and flew in front of Fluttershy’s face, the sudden appearance of it making her scream in fright. “Don’t worry!” Mallow called out. “That Comfey will keep you safe!” Fluttershy closed her eyes and shivered, but the Comfey calmly grabbed hold of the end of its thin vine-tail and placed itself around Fluttershy’s neck, a small puff of pink pollen spurting out of the flowers. Instantly, Fluttershy’s anxiety slipped away, and she felt a sudden calm wash over her. Looking down at her new necklace, the Comfey looked up to her and nodded to it before traveling up its flowery tail and placing a more snug hold on the pegasus’s neck. With a newfound confident smile across her face, she turned back to Mallow. “Thank you!” Before Mallow could even say “you’re welcome,” Fluttershy galloped into the forest where Alice was. Mallow simply crossed her arms and sighed contently, happy to have helped. Sam, Starlight, and Lady ventured further into the jungle, Starlight’s magic parting the vines that hung low from the trees while Lady sniffed around through the grass. Sam held a thumb-sized Miracle Seed in his hand, lobbing it about with mild triumph. “It’s kind of nice how accommodating Mallow is being in this trial,” Sam said. “I really couldn’t imagine getting this done anytime soon without your help.” “Well, Lady and I are more than happy to help out.” Starlight swung another low vine safely around Sam’s head. “Between my magic and Lady’s nose, we should be done with this trial long before those storms hit.” “Right.” Suddenly, Lady barked as she picked up a scent, running further ahead through the grass. Sam and Starlight gasped happily as they picked up their pace and followed the Eevee to where it ran and eventually stopped. Sam and Starlight looked at what Lady had found and was now growling at, which appeared to be a large red mushroom cap with yellow spots. While its appearance seemed foreign to Starlight, Sam leaned forward to reach for it. Upon touching the surface, the mushroom leapt up, revealing a large insect with two large pincer claws underneath. “What is that!” Starlight exclaimed. “Parasect,” he said, grabbing a Poké Ball. “Go, Honedge!” Sam’s Pokémon emerged from its ball, ready to go on the offensive. “Use Return!” With a quick slash, Honedge struck the Parasect against the side of its blade. Noibat launched an Air Cutter against a Fomantis, the strike taking it down instantly. Alice stepped forward and grabbed a curved pink berry with a yellow tip that laid down by the Fomantis’s side before it got back up and ran back into the forest for its life. As she placed it into the bag along with a small red-and-white spotted mushroom, Fluttershy came out from the bushes and approached Alice, who looked pleased to see her. “Oh, there you are! What kept you?” Alice suddenly noticed the Comfey necklace around Fluttershy’s neck. “Aww, where’d you get that?” The Comfey unwrapped itself and floated up to face Alice, its tail still hugging around the other side of Fluttershy’s neck. “Whoa! The heck is that?” Alice pulled open her Pokédex and scanned it. “Comfey,” her Pokédex spoke, “the Posey Picker Pokémon. Baths prepared with the flowers from its vine have a relaxing effect, so this Pokémon is a hit with many people.” “And with ponies too I see.” “I was too scared to go into the forest,” Fluttershy explained as the Comfey roped itself back around her neck, “so Mallow let her come along with me, and, for whatever reason, I feel a lot braver with her by me!” “That’s so cool! Seriously, that is really cool!” The Comfey unwound itself once against as it began gently tugging at Fluttershy and pointing in the direction back where they came from. “You think it knows where I can actually find a Revival Herb?” Alice asked. “I don’t know! Let’s see where it takes us!” Fluttershy galloped back through the bushes with the Comfey pulling toward the way. Alice returned Noibat inside of its ball and quickly followed where they went. Sam’s Fomantis took out another Fomantis with a Fury Cutter, the latter Fomantis fleeing in defeat and allowing Sam to pick up the Mago Berry it left behind. “Nicely done!” Sam said to it. “I thought you’d have a harder time fighting your own kind.” Fomantis slashed its arms out in fervent disagreement. Sam then looked to the fibrous root and Miracle Seed in his other hand and then turned back to see Starlight holding the Mago Berry in her magic grasp and Lady with the Tiny Mushroom clasped gently in its teeth. Sam huffed with accomplishment. “Come on, then! Let’s get back!” Sam, Starlight, and Lady both ventured their way back south to where Mallow and the Totem Pokémon would surely be awaiting. Noibat fell another Fomantis with Aerial Ace, and upon its retreat, the Comfey unwound itself from Fluttershy and picked up the fibrous root that their defeated foe stood guard upon. Dropping the root beside the Mago Berry, Miracle Seed, and Tiny Mushroom in its bag, it floated back in front of Alice’s face and happily mewed to her, signaling the completion of their scavenger hunt. “Well, you heard her! Let’s get this done!” Alice and Fluttershy walked side by side as the Comfey wrapped around the latter’s neck again. Mallow looked out to the back area of the jungle, waiting for the return of both trainers. As if by clockwork, both trainers, ponies, and their partner Pokémon emerged from the back from a fork in the trail, joining together where the paths met. Mallow was quick to welcome them back before they stopped in front of her. “Wow, you’re back really early! You got the ingredients okay?” Sam and Alice responded by taking out the needed items from their possessions and laying and sorting them out neatly on the ground before the mortar and the line of tools. Mallow seemed rather impressed. “Okay then! Such quick service! One last thing before we move on to the main course. Now we just gotta’ mash all these ingredients into a nice paste and attract the totem Pokémon with the aroma.” Sam slipped his backpack off his back and swung it down to the ground while kneeling down. Opening his pack up, he pushed his spare clothes and damp swimsuit forward, giving him enough room to remove a small plastic cutting slide a shiny chef-knife out from a slot in the back of the bag’s lining, heavily impressing Mallow. “That’s a nice looking blade you have there,” she said. “You like to cook yourself?” “Yeah,” Sam said, beginning to dice the Mago Berries. “My sister and I are from Lumiose. Our parents owned a restaurant and I wanted to follow in their footsteps, but I decided on a new lease on life and decided to take the Island Challenge when we moved to Alola.” Mallow stared at Sam’s hands as they quickly cut the berry into small chunks, looking more amazed as he was able to hold a conversation as he did so. “Um…” Mallow then quickly picked up the pestle from the cloth and took the Miracle Seeds from the pile, kneeling to Alice. “You wouldn’t mind grinding these up while your brother works on that, do you?” “Uh… not at all!” Dropping the seeds into the bowl and handing Alice the pestle, Mallow observed as Sam and Alice continued on. She then turned to the ponies, holding both Revival Herbs and Tiny Mushrooms. “Which of you would like to peel the Herbs and who would like to mince the mushrooms?” Starlight looked to Fluttershy, who gave her an apprehensive look that told Starlight what she needed too. With her magic, Starlight took the spare knife from the cloth and the mushrooms from Mallows hand, allowing her to pass the herbs and a vegetable peeler to Fluttershy. With the four of them now hard at work, Mallow put her hands to her hips, the sight of them working giving her immense pride. Fluttershy moved the peeler back with her teeth, taking long strips of hairy rind off the herbs, while Starlight deftly moved the knife in the air against the floating mushroom, quickly turning it into a near powder. Looking to Mallow, she received a thumbs up. Sam stopped cutting the berries, feeling that he had diced them small enough. “What do we do now?” he asked. Mallow looked to Alice, Sam, and Starlight, who appeared finished. “Once we’re all done here–” “I’m… done too.” Dropping the peeler from her teeth, Fluttershy held up the two perfectly peeled Revival Herbs, making Mallow smile. “Looks like we just gotta’ throw it all in the bowl!” On Mallow’s instruction, Sam, Starlight, and Fluttershy dropped their ingredients inside the mortar. Before Alice could begin mashing, Mallow provided her with an even larger pestle, nearly the length of a broom handle and twice as wide. With a nod of acknowledgement, Alice began to grind and stir the ingredients together. They were instantly hit with a fruity scent from the Mago Berries that quickly grew intense with the pepperiness of the Miracle Seed. The Revival Herb added a scent reminiscent of sage, while the Tiny Mushrooms mellowed it into a more buttery, earthy smell. It was an interesting sensation to say the least. With nothing happening, Alice continued to stir, only for a loud call to sound out from the back of the jungle. Alice immediately dropped the pestle and hopped away from the mortar, joining Sam by his side. Realizing the true battle was about to start, Starlight and Fluttershy stepped back behind the two trainers. A sound of rustling leaves and quick steps upon grass came closer to the group as Mallow stepped aside to make room. Finally appearing before them all was a tall Pokémon resembling a bipedal preying mantis with a pink head, and torso like a coat, red-striped legs, and a pair of long, red scythe-like arms. It stood over the mortar and yowled at Sam and Alice, ready for their battle. “What is that thing?” Sam wondered aloud, pulling out his Pokédex. “Lurantis,” it spoke, “the Bloom Sickle Pokémon. It fires beams from its sickle-shaped petals. These beams are powerful enough to cleave through thick metal plates.” “-antis,” Sam sounded out. “Does that mean Fomantis is going to turn into–” Suddenly, two more shapes appeared from the trees and bushes to join the Totem Lurantis. The first was a medium-sized black and white bird with a long, straight and narrow pointed beak. The second appeared as a grey circular head resting on a body that simply consisted of two smaller spherical orbs and a small tail, a white mark over its face like a mask. “Trumbeak,” Alice’s Pokédex suddenly read, “the Bugle Beak Pokémon. It eats berries and stores their seeds in its beak. When it encounters enemies or prey, it fires off all the seeds in a burst.” “And a Castform,” Alice muttered. “Isn’t there usually a fourth?” As if on cue, a Comfey joined the side of the Castform on the Totem Lurantis’s left, making both Alice and Fluttershy gasp. “Another Comfey?” Fluttershy wondered. “Is this a friend of your–” Fluttershy was almost devastated to see the Comfey had disappeared, only for a dark realization to come to her. Turning back to the scene of the battle, she looked into the Comfey’s eyes, which were filled with slight, but telling regret. Alice looked back at her quivering open-mouthed frown, realizing the betrayal as well. “Okay,” Alice hissed, “that’s not cool. Go, Noibat!” Upon the tossing of her Poké Ball, Noibat emerged from it. Sam also got out his first ball. “Let’s go, Honedge!” Tossing his ball out, Honedge roared with readiness as it stood before Sam and prepared for his command. “Kind of wish I had Fury Cutter,” Sam mumbled, “but Noibat should prove useful. Now, let’s show them what we’re made of.” “Noibat,” Alice called out confidently, “use Air Cut–” The Comfey went first, putting the tips of its arms to its mouth and blowing a kiss with its arms now wide open. The kiss appeared to cast Noibat in a light pink glow before it was sapped off of Noibat’s body and washed over and into the Comfey’s flowers. Next up, the Trumbeak swooped down to pick up a rock in its beak, pulling up in front of Noibat and spitting the rock hard into its chest, flinging it to the ground. The Castform was up next, its body glowing bright red before shooting a flare up into the tops of the trees. Suddenly, the flare burst with bright warm light, illuminating the jungle much better as if there was not a cloud in the sky. Sam took caution at the Castform’s new appearance, its head covered in a translucent orange veil with smaller orbs forming a ring around it like sun rays. The Totem Lurantis then began holding its arms out, which glowed brightly in the sun, only to grow bright white before it swung its right arm up and down, the light stretching out until it threw itself down on Honedge, who managed to somewhat deflect the attack with an X-formation minus the green flames that shot off around it. Starlight blocked the light from her shock-widened eyes with her arm. “What the heck kind of move is that?” “The Lurantis’s signature move,” Mallow answered, looking directly at the attack, “Solar Blade. Normally it requires time to charge up, but thanks to Castform’s Sunny Day, it can use it instantly until Sunny Day fades out.” Sam winced as the Totem Lurantis went back to join the others, leaving his scuffed Honedge panting heavily. “Damn! They’re fast and strong! And thanks to that Sunny Day, Castform’s now strong against Honedge.” Alice ignored his play-by-play. “Noibat, use Air Cutter now on Castform!” Noibat shot two blades of air at Castform, each one striking it dead into the face. “If I can at least make it a little easier for her,” Sam grumbled, crossing his wrists in front of his faces, following through with his moves and throwing the set punches needed to activate the Fightinium Z in his Z-Ring. “Honedge, All-Out Pummeling on Trumbeak!” As Sam’s Z-Power flowed into Honedge, it quickly sheathed itself inside its scabbard and shot out at Trumbeak, a flurry of fist-shaped auras flying beside it. With nowhere to run or fly, Trumbeak was struck square in the chest by the tip of Honedge’s scabbard, sending it flying back many feet back. Mallow looked out to where it landed, seeing that it didn’t seem to be getting up. “Not bad!” she suddenly chirped. “Only three left to go!” “Sam.” Alice turned to her brother with exasperation. “Why did you waste your Z-Move already?” “That Trumbeak knew Rock Blast,” he answered. “Now you just have to deal with that Comfey’s Draining Kiss.” Noibat was hit once again by the Comfey’s attack, pink aura drained from it as it was sapped into its flowery vine. The Castform opened its mouth, a small cloud swirling itself into a ball before it before the ball went alight with fire. With a shout, the fireball was hurled at Honedge, forcing it back and making it drop its scabbard. The Totem Lurantis charged its arms again and preapered to swing down on the defenseless Honedge and take it out. Before its attack could strike, Noibat flew above it and caught the attack with its wings, the heat and energy spitting off its arm making it cry out in pain. Despite its agony, Noibat was able to push off and dart out at the Totem Lurantis. “Noibat, Aerial Ace!” Alice’s voice gave it new life, and with a hard hit to its gut, Totem Lurantis was knocked back. “Alright!” Sam shouted. “Honedge, Return on Comfey!” With its second chance given to it, Honedge darted at the Comfey with purpose, and as it tried to form a shield-like spring formation with its vine-tail, Sam shifted his body forward and flicked his wrist in, Honedge reading the command to zip beneath the Comfey and strike it in the back of its unguarded head, sending it to the ground. Sam looked to Noibat, who attempted to fly back to Alice, only to fall and slide to a stop halfway down, fainted from exhaustion. Alice took out her Poké Ball and returned Noibat inside. “Thank you,” she said. “You were a big help.” She then put the ball back into her belt and took out another. “Come on out, Pikachu!” Alice’s large yellow mouse Pokémon shot out from her ball and stood ready to take on the last three Pokémon. Comfey, still groaning from Honedge’s last attack, managed to steal life from Pikachu with yet another Draining Kiss, restoring a little bit of its energy. “Your speed is annoying,” Alice said. “Pikachu, Thunder Wave!” From Pikachu’s cheeks, several sparkling yellow rings shot out in quick succession, striking the Comfey. Fluttershy stood agape with sudden worry as she watched Comfey attempt to move the rest of its body, but to no avail. “What did Pikachu do to her?” “Just paralyzed it,” Alice answered. “Now it won’t move nearly as fast.” Castform produced another fireball and shot it at Honedge, this time bringing it down for good. Sam knelt down and laid its discarded scabbard on his Pokémon’s blade before returning it inside of its ball. “Nice work there.” As he pulled out his last Poké Ball, he watched as the Totem Lurantis suddenly charged out at Pikachu, both of its arms held out to the sides. Pikachu ran towards its attacker, and when the Totem Lurantis swung both arms down in a cross shape, Pikachu managed to slide beneath the bottom gap and between its legs, getting behind it. Quickly, Sam tossed his Poké Ball out. “It’s all you now, Fomantis!” Sam’s last Pokémon came out from its ball with a flip before landing on its feet. Sam pointed to the Lurantis that his Fomantis faced. “You see that? That’s who you’ll get to be. Of course, much stronger.” Fomantis swung its arms out in agreement. With Comfey struggling to move, Alice swung her arms up, crossing her wrists before her face, following through and punching to activate her own Fightinium Z, the Z-Power zapping into Pikachu as it arched its back up, ready to move. “We don’t stand a chance with Castform still up,” Alice said, “so let’s finish it off. Pikachu, All-Out Pummeling!” Pikachu shot out, leaping up with a fist-shaped aura launching at the Castform, which kept its entire focus on dodging it. Thus, it could not see Pikachu as it leapt up with its fist out, breaking the orange veil around its head and clocking the Castform in the face, the resulting blast of energy shooting Castform into a tree directly behind it, producing an explosion of woodchips and dirt. When the dust and dirt cleared, Pikachu could see Castform’s unconscious body held in its bark, calling out to Mallow to chalk one off for it and Alice. “Okay, halfway there!” Mallow said. “Hope you’re saving room for dessert!” The Totem Lurantis then shot out at Sam and Fomantis, its imposing size and speed instantly threatening to the both of them. “Hurry, block it!” Fomantis was snapped out of its fright with Sam’s call and as the Totem Lurantis slashed down its arms with an X-Scissor, which Fomantis caught with both of its own arms, the force sliding it back as the Totem Lurantis continued pushing. Sam suddenly saw that with the Totem Lurantis bent over to reach his Fomantis, its stomach was left completely exposed. “Fomantis, zip under and use Fury Cutter!” Pushing its arms up and running under them until the Lurantis’s arms were behind it, Fomantis charged and leapt up, delivering several quick swipes at the Totem Lurantis’s stomach before it flicked Fomantis off and back to Sam. As the Totem Lurantis returned, the Comfey tried to lift its arms to perform another Draining Kiss, but its arms were too stiff to move, leaving it to Alice’s Pikachu’s mercy. “That’s our opening!” Alice shouted. “Get Comfey with Thunder Shock!” With a charge of its cheeks, Pikachu shot lighting at Comfey, where it screamed a last time before it began to flutter to the ground. Once the attack finished, Fluttershy and the Comfey looked into each other’s eyes. Comfey let out a couple of weak mews before it fainted and safely floated to the ground. Starlight looked to Fluttershy, who appeared perplexed by what the Comfey said to it. “Fluttershy?” she asked. “Did you understand her?” “Friends… strong…” the words came out as weakly from Fluttershy’s mouth as it did the Comfey’s. Starlight looked down to Comfey with a similar confusion as Mallow picked it up and carried it off and away from the battle. “All that’s left now is your main course! You can do this!” The Totem Lurantis charged once again at Fomantis, who prepared itself quicker with its arms crossed. As it continued advancing, the Totem Lurantis raised its arms in the same formation as its last X-Scissor, and Fomantis rose its arms to meet them. On the last step, the Totem Lurantis tucked its arms in and crossed them, slashing them back up before Fomantis could react. Fomantis was struck in the stomach, sent up flying over Sam before it landed back down on the ground at the foot of the pathway to the jungle’s exit. Sam could tell by its lack of movement that the Totem Lurantis had finished it off, and with a hiss, returned his last Pokémon back into its ball. “It’s up to you now!” Sam said to Alice. “Sorry I couldn’t be much help.” “No problem, bro.” She turned back to face the Totem Lurantis. “It’s three on one from here on out. Pikachu, use Thunder Wave!” Pikachu shot out pulses of electric rings from its cheeks, each one headed at the Totem Lurantis. Unfazed by the attack, Lurantis swung one of its glowing arms, producing a cloud of small light-green leaves that broke the rings apart like bubbles on contact, shocking both trainers and the ponies behind them. “What?” Alice gasped. “This thing has Leaf Guard?” Suddenly, the forest began to grow darker again, the Castform’s artificial sunlight fading from the treetops. The Totem Lurantis noticed this as well, and upon holding its arms up, it absorbed the last of the sunlight before it fully faded away. Alice and Pikachu both knew what was coming. “Pikachu, dodge it with Quick Attack!” Pikachu darted and juked out at the Totem Lurantis, who already began swinging both of its bright arms down on the ground on each side of Pikachu. Once Pikachu got close, both of its arms struck the ground around it, blasting the ground up in a near-blinding explosion, taking Pikachu with it. Before the dust could even clear around the Totem Fomantis, Pikachu landed back on the ground, lying still and fully exhausted. “It’s okay.” Alice returned her Pikachu to its ball as the Totem Lurantis fanned the dust away, staring at her expectantly for its next victim. “You did your best.” Alice put her hand on one of her Poké Balls, completely aware of how difficult the battle would become from this point on, and the ponies from behind could sense the difficulty she faced. “Who’s she going to send out?” Fluttershy wondered “It doesn’t really matter,” Starlight responded. “Both of her remaining Pokémon are weak against Grass-types, so she must be trying to figure out how to make it easier for the last one.” Alice reached for the other ball, tossing it out with no going back. “You’re up, Rockruff!” Despite the strength of its enemy, Rockruff appeared from Alice’s Poké Ball with a brave and serious poise. Alice smiled easier, inspired by her Pokémon’s readiness. “Okay, Rockruff, use Scary Face!” Despite the lack of sunlight, harsh shadows were cast on the Rockruff’s face as it pulled its jowls up, revealing its gumline and set of teeth as it growled for extra threatening effect. The Totem Lurantis squinted through Rockruff’s glare, suddenly revealing a bright red leaf held in the end of its arm. Upon crumbling it, the Totem Lurantis’s arm began to glow bright again, charging up another Solar Blade. “Seriously?” Sam growled. “And a Power Herb?” With Rockruff’s intimidating façade fading at the sight of the oncoming attack, Lurantis wound its arm back and swung it over and down, the light following through as it blasted Rockruff into the ground, the force blowing hard into Alice and the ponies as well. Mallow looked upon it with great sympathy, knowing that Rockruff couldn’t have possibly survived. Sure enough, the dust settled to reveal Rockruff unconscious upon its back, unable to fight any longer. Alice returned Rockruff inside its ball, putting the top half to her forehead guiltily. “Sorry, boy.” She returned the ball to her belt and brought out the last one, holding it for a moment as she stared back at the Totem Lurantis. “Let’s finish this, Mudbray!” Alice’s donkey emerged from the ball and stood at the ready, suddenly flushed with concern upon watching the Totem Lurantis sharpen its arms against each other, which was breathing heavily with the tension built up between them. “Don’t worry about it!” Alice called. “Rockruff lowered its speed for you. You can do this!” Mudbray brought its head down low and ran its front right hoof back against the ground, prepared to go on the offensive. “Use Stomp!” Mudbray galloped out as fast as its legs could carry it. As Mudbray advanced, the Totem Lurantis held its arms up into the air, the glow upon them as they absorbed the faint orange sunlight coming through the trees brightening much slower than before. With a leap and quick turn around, Mudbray bucked the Totem Lurantis in the face, bringing it down to a kneel. “Yeah!” Fluttershy screamed, shocking Starlight and Lady. “You got this, Mudbray!” Alice could also see that Lurantis’s charge was not quite complete, smiling with victory in her sights. “Come on, Mudbray. Hit it with one last Stomp!” The Totem Lurantis looked up to its foe, who already stood itself on its hind legs and aimed its front hooves over its head. As the Totem Lurantis raised its arm to block the attack, Mudbray fell with its full weight slamming down on the back of its head, throwing its face hard into the ground. Starlight, Lady, and Fluttershy cheered as they saw the Totem Lurantis sprawled out face down on the ground with its arms out. Despite their win looking clear as day, Alice looked warily at the Totem Lurantis’s arms as it still continued absorbing sunlight. Her fears were fortified as the Totem Luranris slowly pushed itself off the ground and stood glowering over Mudbray, making the frightened donkey trip over itself as it backed away, forcing it into a sitting position. The ponies cheering had already stopped as they saw the desperate situation, the Totem Lurantis’s arms now white as they were ready for what would be the final Solar Blade. “Mudbray, run!” Alice’s words fell deaf on Mudbray’s ears as it watched the Totem Lurantis raise its arms up. Starlight’s lip quivered, unsure of what to do. Finally, she bared her teeth and let out a shout as she galloped out in front of Alice and Sam, charging her horn. The Totem Lurantis swung down, and Mudbray shut its eyes with its arms over its head. The Solar Blade struck down, producing a massive explosion of soil and dirt which rolled into everyone, knocking Sam and Alice in particular off their feet. Mallow held on to the bark of a tree with the fainted Comfey held tight in her arms. Once the winds from the blast died down, Sam and Alice stood up, awaiting the aftermath. Looking between them, they saw as Starlight’s horn was charged, clearly aiming whichever spell she casted out in front of her. Enough dust cleared to reveal Mudbray safely shielded by a bright, translucent blue dome, the Totem Lurantis’s arms resting down upon it. Alice went wide-eyed at the sight. “Starlight… what did you do?” “I knew it wouldn’t survive the hit!” she shouted out, coming close to tears. “I had to do something!” “Starlight, it’s okay!” Starlight turned back to face Alice, who gave her a warm smile. “Thank you.” Starlight smiled back with tears welling in her eyes, the magic on her horn and the forcefield around Mudbray fading away, freeing it. The Totem Lurantis, knowing what would happen, stepped back and relaxed its arms back at its sides as it watched Mudbray run into Alice’s tight embrace. “What you did was very noble,” Mallow said, stepping to the trainers and ponies from her spot, “but unfortunately, it was still a conscious interference. Sam, Alice, I’m sorry, but I must declare this trial forfeited.” Sam sighed, the words devastating to hear. “It’s alright,” he said. “I don’t think we would have ended up winning this in our state.” He then knelt down to the Mudbray and gently petted its neck near the mane, his touch making it recoil in fright of Sam’s possible retaliation. “But you came close.” Mudbray’s shaking stopped, gladdened by Sam’s compliment, which also earned Sam a gracious nod from his sister. Suddenly, the forest became even darker, and the faint sound of thunder began to roar high above. Instantly, Fluttershy’s ears drooped and her legs swooned as the clouds she could see through the treetops began to flicker with faint light. “You should get out of here!” Mallow concernedly said. “There’s a motel just a bit north of here! Get to it before the storms get any worse!” Sam untied his jacket from his waist and threw it on. “Will you be here tomorrow?” “Sure thing! It might be a little flooded by tomorrow morning, but you’re welcome to retry the trial whenever you’re ready.” “Thank you!” Starlight shouted as the wind picked up and whistled through the jungle, backing up towards the exit. She and Lady suddenly began to run back, and once Alice returned Mudbray to its Poké Ball, she and Sam also ran to follow her. Before Fluttershy could leave with them, she turned back and ran up to Mallow, the Comfey still in her arms. “Will she be okay?” she asked. “Yeah!” The wind picked up more, forcing Mallow to shout. “She’ll be fine by tomorrow morning! You should hurry to the motel before it gets–” A bolt of lightning flashed in the sky, accompanied by a deafening crack. With uncanny speed, Fluttershy sped to the exit screaming. Raindrops began to fall from the leaves and vines on the trees and strike Mallow's face hard enough to sting, forcing her to run out of the forest with the Comfey in tow. The Totem Lurantis watched over her as the Trumbeak and Castform joined its side, quickly retreating into the darkness.